In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court has quashed the charges under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) against former minister and Congress leader Byrathi Basavaraja. This decision is connected to the ongoing investigation into the murder of Shivaprakash.
Court's Rationale on Custodial Interrogation
The ruling came during the hearing of an application filed by Basavaraja seeking anticipatory bail. While dealing with the plea, the court made a crucial observation regarding the powers of the investigating agency. The bench noted that custodial interrogation remains a legal option available to the investigators. The court explicitly stated that there was no valid reason to deny the agency the exercise of this power as part of a thorough probe.
Details of the Case and Legal Proceedings
The case pertains to the murder of Shivaprakash, which had led the police to invoke the stringent KCOCA against several accused, including Byrathi Basavaraja. The defence argued against the applicability of the organised crime law in this instance. After considering the arguments, the High Court found merit in the challenge to the KCOCA charges, leading to their annulment against the former minister. The proceedings were closely followed, with the order being pronounced on 19 December 2025.
Implications and Next Steps
While the quashing of KCOCA is a major relief for Byrathi Basavaraja, the court's observation on custodial interrogation keeps the legal avenues open for the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The murder investigation continues under other relevant sections of the law. This ruling underscores the high legal threshold required for applying stringent acts like KCOCA and reaffirms the procedural rights of investigating bodies in complex cases. The development is expected to influence the future trajectory of this high-profile case based in Bengaluru.
